He's been team manager for years. Because he's done so much for them, the players returned the favor Thursday night.

Michael thinks of himself as just one of the guys. But two years ago, he was diagnosed with a form of autism. Every summer when tryouts come around, he begs his parents to let him join the football team.

"I gotta tell him, 'They're not going to allow you, baby,'" Michael's mother, Olga Gonzales, explains. "'Remember how I told you you're so special. We have to take care of you, can't let anything happen to you. Because you're so special, we can't do that.'"